Dredg ing-machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheety-Sheet 1.

G. W. WOOD {in H. B. ALEXANDER. a

DREDGING MAGHINE.

No. 548,242. Patented Oct. 22, 1895.

(No Model.)

G. W. WOOD 8: EB.

DREDGING MAG @HHIM amp 3 Sheets-Sheet 2'.

ALEXANDER.

HINE.

Patented Oct. 22, 1895.

(No Model'.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. G. W. WOOD & H. B. ALEXANDER.

DREDGING MACHINE. No. 548,242.

Pate-nt edbct. 22-, 1895.

v lgzfimrw 7/ a I UNHED STATES PATENT Qrrrcs.

GEORGE W. WOOD AND HUGH B. ALEXANDER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DREDGING I VIACHINET SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,242, dated October 22, 1895.

I Application filed November 24, 1394. Serial No. 529,873. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE W. WOOD and HUGH B. ALEXANDER, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have in Vented certain new and useful Improvements in Dredging-Machines; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of machines employed in excavating canals, the beds of rivers or other streams, and in sinking foundations for bridges and reclaiming lands, and other work of a similar character. 7 I

This machine is more especially intended for use in operating in hard material, such as the ordinary devices are not adapted to handle.

The invention also comprises certain other novel features, as will be hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying our improved features; Fig. 2, a broken-away enlarged elevation; Fig. 3, a broken-away plan, showing details; Fig. 4. a transverse section on line 4, Fig. 3, looking in' the direction indicated by the arrow; Fig. 5, a broken-away longitudinal section on line 5, Fig. 3; and Fig. 6, an end elevation of the scoop. V I

A may represent the usual dredge-boat, B the turntable, O the frame or boom parts, and D D the spuds, all of which are of the ordinary well-known construction, so that a detailed description of these parts is unnecessary.

The excavating-scoop in this improvement is not attached to nor operated by the usual handle arrangement, but is connected to the telescopic member of an adjustable suctionpipe.

The suction connection consists of a pipe 7 and the telescoping pipe-section 8, as shown in Fig. 3. The pipe 7 is properly supported in the companion bars 9, which are adapted to have an endwise movement and are loosely retained in place by guide-plates 10, secured at their outer edges to frame-timbers 11 and 12. The guide-bands 13 loosely embrace the bars 9 and have their respective ends secured to said timbers and assist in retaining the same in place. The rear ends of timbers 11 and 12 are joined by a cross-bar 14. A stub shaft 15 is inserted in timber 12 and has a bearing in stand 16. On the opposite side is a bearing-sleeve 17, supported in stand'18 and having one end attached to timber 11, as shown in the sectional part of Fig. 3. The suction pipe is provided adjacent to this point with a balland socket joint 19. This provides for an up-and-down rocking movement of the supporting-frame and suctionpipe back to the ball-and-socket connection. This socket or pivotal joint also provides for a lateral movement of the suction-pipe coincident with that of the turn-table.

The stationary part' of the suction-pipe connectswi'th a rotary or centrifugal pump 20, the position of which is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the discharge-pipe 21 extending back over the rear end of the boat to any convenient point.

' The scoop 22 is secured to the ends of bars 9 by the companion brackets 23, the outer end of pipe-section 8 connecting with the scoop therebetween, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

Companion rack-bars 24 are secured to bars 9, Figs. 2 and 3, and have pinions 25 and 26 engaging therewith. These pinions are mounted on shaft 27, which is provided with proper journal-bearings. This arrangement provides means for running out or retracting the telescoping extension of the suction-pipethat is, lengthening or shortening the same as practical working may require.

Shaft 27 may be operated by any suitable motive power. 1

The scoop 22 is of a particular construction and is provided on its face with a number of fingers 28, Figs. 5 and 6, which project beyond the upper and lower edges and are set at an angle to adapt them to penetrate the earth and assist in loosening up the harder material. This scoop is provided on its upper and lower sides with openings 29, divided by bars 30, having sharp edges 31, which have the efiect of breaking up the material and also preventing such large particles from entering the scoop as would be liable to clog up the passage or interfere with the free working of the pump.

A diaphragm-valve 32 is located on the in side of the scoop and is pivoted, as at 33, the

inner edge being free and adapted to have a reciprocating movement across the passage leading from the scoop into the suction-pipe. The movement of this valve is limited between the lugs 34, Fig. 5, formed on opposite sides of the suction-passage. This valve divides the chamber in the scoop into two compartments and automatically opens and closes the passage leading into the suction-pipe alternately in accordance with the direction in which the scoop is being moved.

The position of the valve in Fig. 5 indicates that the scoop is on the up movement. moving in the opposite directionthe pressure of the water and loose earth rushing in-willforce the valve over tothe opposite side. This valve-diaphragm may be a rigid partition; but the arrangement shown ispret'erred,as nearly the full area of suction-pipe is always open. This valve prevents the matter. from passing to and clogging the opposite side of the scoop-chamber from that in which it is moving, and especially so when on the up movement. In using a single scoop this valve feature may be omitted; but it isessential in the large or double scoop shown. One end of tackle 35,. for moving the scoop inone direction, is connected theretqthe.opposite end leading to and winding on drum 36. Tackle 37, for moving the scoop in the opposite direction, also connects the same with drum 36,

which has the usual reversible action, motion being transmitted to the sameby anysuitable mechanism.

A-sleeve 38 is loosely mounted on one of the spuds and has sheaves 39 and 40 pivoted to opposite sides thereof, as shown in the broken-away detail .ofFig. 2. Tackle 37 is rove over these sheaves, and the sleeve, being adapted to turn on its bearing, readily adjusts itself to the line otthe tackleand relieves thesame of any undue binding strain. This sleeve may also be adjusted up or down by means of collars 41 and 42, as may be required.

In operationa reciprocating movement is imparted to the scoop, always, however, keeping itsubmerged, the material to be removed When being drawnthrough by the action of the suction-pump.

The machine is shown in a working position in Figs. 1 and 2, 43 representing the earth or material being removed and 44 the waterline. 45 is the usual drum or winch attachment for'operating the turn-table. By this arrangement the process of dredging and excavating below the water-line is greatly facilitated, the operation being continuous, so that a large amount of material can be handled within a limited time.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a dredgingmachine, the combination with a suctiompipe, having avtelescopic extension, ot the endwise moving bars, to which said extension 1s secured, theframe-timbers, means for loosely retaining said bars in rela- .tion to saidtimbers to, permit of an endwise porting-frame, substantially as described.

3. Ina dredging-machine, the combination with a suction-pipe, having a ball-and-socket joint, of a supportingframe,pivotedat one end, and asleeve, torminga bearing for said pipe betweenthe frame and socket-joint, substantially as described.

Intestimony whereof we aflix our-signatures in presence two witnesses.

GEORGE W. WOOD. HUGH B. ALEXANDER. Witnesses:

L. M. FREEMAN, L. B. COUPLAND. 

